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city in Lower Saxony, Germany
Europe > Central Europe > Germany > Lower Saxony > Hanover Region > Hildesheim

Church of St. Michael (Michaeliskirche) - World Cultural Heritage

Hildesheim[dead link] is a city in the north German region (Land) of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen).

Understand

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The historical centre of Hildesheim consisted of over 1900 half-timbered buildings and was often called "Nuremberg of the north" up to the Second World War. During the war, 90% of the centre was destroyed; only a few lanes in the southern centre remained unchanged. Today the centre consists mainly of postwar buildings, 1950 to 1970. However, many historical monuments have been reconstructed. In this process, some of the changes of the last few centuries were removed and the original form of the buildings restored. Two church buildings were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1985.

Get in

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By plane

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The nearest commercial airport is Hanover Airport[dead link] (HAJ IATA). Approximately 30-40 minutes by car or around one hour by train.

By car

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Hildesheim is connected to the Autobahn network with A7.

By train

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  • It is an ICE stop every hour for several connections, like Berlin - Frankfurt.
  • There is also Regional-Express from Hanover every hour or so.
  • There is also two S-Bahn-lines from Hanover every half hour or so.

Get around

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Map
Map of Hildesheim

The city centre can be explored comfortably on foot. All objects of interest and public buildings are out-described. The cycle track net is nearly complete, up to few distances in the centre. Also for cyclists there are own, uniform signs in the city and the region of Hildesheim. For further distances buses and taxis are present. A single ticket for the city bus costs €3.00 for adults and €1.45 for children (2023). It applies 60 minute long to as many as desired uses. With the city ticket at the price of €6.80 2 adults and 2 children can make as many as desired bus travels during whole day. For nighthawks there is the night bus for the city and the entire county. No extra charge. For more information call Stadtwerke Hildesheim, ☏ +49 5121 66666.

Marktplatz with City Hall, Tempelhaus (Tourist Info), Wedekindhaus, Lüntzelhaus, Bakers' Guild Hall and Rolandbrunnen (fountain).
Bakers' Guild Hall
Butchers' Guild Hall
Wernersche House after the renovation 2011
  • 1 Marktplatz (historic market place). - and surrounding buildings which include, among others, Rathaus (Town Hall), Knochenhauer-Amtshaus (Butchers' Guild Hall), Bäckeramtshaus (Bakers' Guild Hall), Tempelhaus and Wedekindhaus. 
  • 2 Umgestülpter Zuckerhut (Upended Sugarloaf). Half-timbered house,built between 1500 and 1510, destroyed in World War II, reconstructed in 2010. 

Churches

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  • 3 St. Mary's Cathedral (Mariendom), Domhof. Daily 10:00-18:00. UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, dates back to the 11th century. See the bronze doors and bronze column, both commissioned by Bishop Bernward around 1015 and the 1000-year-old rosebush in the cloister. Free. (updated Apr 2015)
  • 4 St. Michael's Church (St. Michaelis), Michaelisplatz, ☏ +49 5121 34410. Apr-Oct: M W-F 09:00-16:00, Tu 10:00-18:00, Su 12:00-18:00; Nov-Mar M W-F 09:00-16:00, Tu 10:00-16:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 12:00-18:00. Early Romanesque church famous for its Ottonian architecture and the unique "Jessebom", a painted family tree of Jesus-Christ on the wooden ceiling. Also World Cultural Heritage. Free. (updated Apr 2015)
  • 5 St. Andrew's Church (St.-Andreas-Kirche), Andreasplatz. Apr-Sep: M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-16:00, Su 11:30-16:00; Oct-Mar: M-Sa 09:00-16:00, Su 11:30-16:00. It has the tallest church tower in Lower Saxony (114.5 metres, can be accessed and offers great views). Church: free, tower visit: €2.50, children €2. (updated Apr 2015)

Museums and galleries

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  • 6 The Roemer und Pelizaeus Museum, Am Steine 1-2, ☏ +49 5121 93690. Tu W F-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00, closed M. One of the oldest museums in Germany, with world class collections of natural history, ancient Egyptian and Peruvian antiquities, and local history. The museum is also noted for the quality of its special exhibitions. Adult €10, concessions €8, child 6-14 yr €5, family €20. (updated Apr 2015)
  • 7 Stadtmuseum Hildesheim, Markt 7, ☏ +49 5121 29936 85. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00, closed M. Museum located in a reconstructed Knochenhauer-Amtshaus (Butchers' Guild Hall building) next to the Markt. Permanent exhibition concerns city history. Adult €2.50, child 6-14 yr €1.50. (updated Apr 2015)
  • 8 Cathedral Museum (Dom-Museum), Domhof 18-21, ☏ +49 5121 307 760. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00, closed M. A rich collection of liturgical objects and works of art of exceptional quality spanning many centuries. Adult €6, children-18 yr free. (updated Apr 2015)

Further afield

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Castle Marienburg
  • 9 Castle Marienburg (Schloss Marienburg), Marienburg 1, 30982 Pattensen (20km south of Hanover, 16 km west of Hildesheim.). Open daily from March until the end of October from 10:00 to 18:00. The last castle tour begins at 17:00. Considered one of the most important neo-Gothic historical buildings in Germany, the castle will transport you back to a day in the life of a Hanoverian court. Its many turrets dominates the rolling hills of the valley of the River Leine. You can take a comprehensive tour of the castle allowing you to see its grand halls and historic rooms. Adult €7, children 4–6 years €4, 7-12 yr €5, 13-17 yr €6. 
  • 10 Schloss Derneburg / Hall Art Foundation, Schlossstraße 1, 31188 Holle; visitor center: Astenbeck 42, 31188 Holle, ☏ +49 5062 96 40 294, . Sa Su 11:00 (5 hr tour), short tour availabe W Sa at 15:00. Formerly home to the artist Georg Baselitz, this castle has opened to the public in 2017. Now owned by Andrew Hall, who renovated and curated art exposition with his wife Christine. It is within the boundaries of the village Derneburg, being part of the Holle municipality, €75 long tour (including lunch), €30 short tour. (updated Jul 2017)

Events

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  • 3 M'era Luna. second weekend in August. Each year around 25,000 fans of metal, industrial, dark-wave and goth music gather at this festival which is possibly the most famous of its kind in Europe. Many top names in these genres have performed here at least once and the 2014 event included Within Temptation and Marilyn Manson among others. 
  • 1 Cafe Del Sol, Frankenstraße 43a (Berliner Kreisel), ☏ +49 5121 280935. Su-Tu 09:00-00:00, F Sa until 01:00. Café and bistro in the style of American colonial architecture. (updated Apr 2015)
  • 2 Eiscafé Capri, Almsstraße 3, ☏ +49 5121 2081766. Great ice cream parlour in the pedestrian area. (updated Apr 2015)
  • 3 Die Insel, Dammstraße 30, ☏ +49 5121 14535. Tu-Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 11:00-18:00, closed M. Restaurant and cafe on a small river island. (updated Apr 2015)
  • 4 Meyers Treppchen, Brauhausstraße 40, ☏ +49 5121 888000. M-Sa 17:00-, Su 11:00-14:30 & 17:00-, closed W. German cuisine and South German specialities. Beer garden in a beautiful location. (updated Apr 2015)

Drink

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  • 1 Potters Bar, Friesenstraße 17, ☏ +49 5121 14698. M-Sa 19:00-. Selection of over 200 different cocktails, many other drinks and non-alcoholic alternatives. 
  • 2 Kulturfabrik Löseke, Langer Garten 1, ☏ +49 5121 7509450. Big brick building right next to the railway, former factory. Inside a cafe, club, cinema, exhibition spaces, workshops and who knows what more. 

Sleep

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Booking a room in Hildesheim well in advance is highly recommended as hotels can easily get full and/or raise their rates during the times of exhibitions and conventions in Hanover, a city only half an hour away when taking the autobahn.

Go next

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This city travel guide to Hildesheim is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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